Comments on: JAMES BLAKE SPLITS WITH COACH BRIAN BARKER

By: Betting Tennis Coaching Club - Nadal through in Shanghai after Ljubicic quits (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:04:18 +0000

[...] JAMES BLAKE SPLITS WITH COACH BRIAN BARKER | GOTOTENNISIts a good news/bad news/Big News day for James Blake fans. Blakes out of the China Open, but played Rafael Nadal tough, losing 5-7, 7-6(4), 3-6 in what AKPC_IDS += "3281,";Popularity: unranked [?] [...]

By: alista

alista — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:38:15 +0000

I don’t think it will make much difference. It’s just too late in his career. But one never knows. Andy Roddick responds well to new coaches, so we’ll see.

By: lorrie

lorrie — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:49:10 +0000

my first thought was also FINALLY. not only for james but also for brian barker, who might have been the most loyal and frustrated coach. i've never been able to get behind james. he just refused to have a plan b. however, he is very fit, full of talent and if he's motivated, believes he can improve and gives it all he's got, who knows what can happen. i hope he does well and that i'll be inspired to watch him play.

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:52:46 +0000

I agree that James may just have too healthy an attitude about life to be at the top of tennis. But I find him to be a very admirable guy. He may not win a major, but who has in the last few years? There are a lot of guys in the same position right now — facing the limitations of time and ability. James from all accounts is a really good guy, who represents the game well, and puts a premium on loyalty and friendship. I hope he gets results from the change and has a comeback, but even if it doesn't happen, I think he can look back on his career with a lot of pride and satisfaction.

By: freakyfrites

freakyfrites — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:21:10 +0000

Hi Van!

"I'm kind of afraid those years were prime ones, too."

Yep, I think that's the problem.

It's also interesting that Barker says that Kelly shares many of his opinions as a coach. And that Kelly is a friend of both Barker and Blake. So in this case I'm thinking this switch is an attempt to get the same message from a different messenger. It doesn't sound like a guru-pupil type relationship a la Stefanki-Roddick.

James is a really interesting case. Do you think he really has fulfilled his potential? Do you think he overachieved? I've always felt like there was something missing with James – but it's hard for me to put my finger on. He has a great family and support system, he's smart, well-educated, good-looking, likable, he's buddy-buddy with most of the Americans – and maybe all this is good enough for him. Unlike some of the other guys, he just doesn't seem to live and breathe for tennis. At least his well-adjusted personality will serve him well post-retirement. . .

By: Tweets that mention JAMES BLAKE SPLITS WITH COACH BRIAN BARKER | GOTOTENNIS -- Topsy.com

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:59:02 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jose Payano. Jose Payano said: RT @gototennis JAMES BLAKE SPLITS WITH COACH BRIAN BARKER | GOTOTENNIS http://bit.ly/SElwk [...]

By: Van Sias

Van Sias — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:47:30 +0000

Freakyfrites, you took the words right out of my mouth! I mean, obviously Barker's done a lot for James, but come on! It hasn't worked for a couple of years now. I'm kind of afraid those years were prime ones, too. I just hope James listens to Kelly and stops deciding to blast every ball. Even though I think James hates him more than anything after the Olympics, if he were to go back and look at how Fernando Gonzalez played after hooking up with Stefanki, it could do wonders for him.

If James doesn't start slicing and looping more backhands, as well as hitting more consistent forehand approaches (which I think Jones will tell him to do), then I think he's uncoachable and might as well go back to Barker.